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“That sounds like a lot of love all coming your way.”
“True. A lot of love, a lot of attention, and a lot of extracurricular activities.” She has no idea—swimming, piano, football, debate team, athletics, endless hours of tutoring. It never stopped.
“I know you went to an ivy league school. Sorry… all part of my research.” She grins sheepishly. I kind of love that she researched me.
“I know what kind of car you drive, you love to fly, and that you’re dedicated to your job and clients. I know you love your parents, even if you want to strangle them just a little bit. But I don’t really know why I’m here. I mean, other than what your mom told me, but she was pretty vague.”
I was dreading this conversation, hoping we could bypass it completely. But I know that if I stand a chance with her, I’m going to need to get it off my chest and move past it.
“I dated a girl in college for years. She was really controlling, and I’m pretty sure she was only with me because of my family name, but I fell for it. For her. I couldn’t see at the time that she was there for all the wrong reasons, and honestly, she broke my heart. I threw everything into being with her, but it really affected all my other relationships, including the one I have with my family. I had almost no friends left at the end of it. I didn’t even realize how she alienated me from my family and friends. I was young and naïve, and I thought that it was true love… that she was the one. Obviously, it wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry,” she says and reaches out, laying a hand on my arm.
“You don’t have to be sorry,” I say softly.
“I’ve been focusing on my job for a long time now, and I’m good at it. That’s gotten me to where I am right now, and I’m not complaining in the slightest.” I hope she takes the hint.
She slips her hand out of mine and reaches for her drink. “I’ve paired many people who have similar pasts to that. And you know what, they go on to have happy relationships. Some are married now. Happy. Starting families.” She shrugs, still studying the sky.
More and more stars are visible, and it’s a beautifully clear night. I swear, if you reached out, you could touch them. The lights of the plane are getting closer, and it’ll only be a few minutes until it gets here.
“I’m not sure I can, you know, bring it in to land, though.” She snorts at my terrible joke.
“I’ve had bad dating experiences too, and by default, hundreds, really, that my clients have endured. Honestly, you wouldn’t believe some of the tales I could tell you. My mental rolodex is long and tortured.” I have to laugh at that—I bet she has some shocking stories. “I’ve had my share of heartbreak, too,” she continues. “But really, if the fundamentals are there, decency and honesty, the problem most people have is finding someone they have real chemistry with.”
“Really? So, tell me, what does true chemistry feel like, even if you’re telling me what others have told you?” This might be the perfect inroad to find out whether these feelings I’m having are one-sided and what the hell I can do about them.
Abbi turns toward me. She’s not smiling, and the intensity in her eyes stops my breath. “I think it’s when you can’t stop thinking about the other person, and you wonder what they’re doing at random times in the day. Or you notice every little thing about them when they’re close to you and remember those same things when they’re away. It’s an itch to touch them and be close to them. Wanting intimacy. Seeking it out. With them.”
Wow, that was a lot. And am I surprised that she perfectly described how I feel about her? Not at all. God, I want to kiss her.
Fuck it, I’m going to kiss her.
“Abbi…” I lean in toward her, an inch at a time. She sways in my direction.
A downdraft of air hits us right at that second, just as our lips are a fraction apart, and a roar so loud you can feel it in your bones follows as a two-propeller plane comes in low over the trees behind us. We both jump to our feet and watch the plane land, shocked by how close it is and the volume of air it moved as it came in low. This afternoon with her has been full of laughs, unexpected moments, and stunningly beautiful sights.
We look at each other and laugh, and the quiet pull of a moment lingers, but she can’t quite meet my eyes.
“I’m supposed to be talking about your next date, Dean. We should be planning out where you’re going to take her and what strategies you can use to work out if she’s a good match. Or at the very least, if you want to take her to the wedding on Sunday.”
As soon as she says the words, I know with complete certainty that I want to take Abbi to the wedding.
“What if I told you I don’t want to talk about any of that?”
“It’s my job, Dean. We have to.”
“What if I tell you that I know my next date isn’t the one I want to take to the wedding or anywhere else for that matter?”What if I told you I want to kiss you?
“Then all the progress we’ve made is for nothing. My work on this is a failure. I’ve failed you and your family.” She sighs.
Shit, I didn’t mean to make her feel that way. If the goddamn plane hadn’t flown over, and I was certain she returned my feelings, I’d speak up.
“No, you’re right, I’m just frustrated at the situation. I need more time, but the wedding is in a matter of days. I need to get with the program.”Lies. All lies.
“Yes, you do. We should pack all of this up and talk about your next date on the way home because I’ve organized a night out tomorrow with the woman of your dreams. I have a good feeling about one.”
She drops to her knees and starts to put the food away, and I join her, cursing the plane, cursing myself for not speaking up, cursing the nameless woman going on a date with tomorrow night.
